You are here

Blue Comets earn easy MPC win over Western Guilford

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro High School Blue Comets couldn’t have asked for a better first half of football Friday night and the Blue Comets rode that strong start to an easy 34-8 Mid-Piedmont Conference win over Western Guilford at Lee J. Stone Stadium.

While holding the Hornets to 28 total yards in the first two periods, the Blue Comets’ offense was a perfect 3-for-3 in scoring drives as AHS led 21-0 at the break.

“Defensively we played tremendous,” AHS coach Owen George said after the Blue Comets improved to 3-2 in the league and 6-4 overall hading into next week’s regular-season finale at Central Davidson. “The defense is all about getting the other team off the field and getting us good field position.

“And the running backs did a great job and the offensive line, you can’t do anything without the offensive line,” George added. “It was Senior Night and those guys on the line A.J. (Miller), Petey (Johnson) and Brian Conrad, it was their last game on their home field and I’m pleased we all came together for this win.”

The Blue Comets registered more yards in penalties (45) than yards allowed (28) in the first two quarters and were never threatened as they dropped Western Guilford to 2-3 in league play and 2-8 overall.

“I told them to celebrate the victory this weekend, but come Monday there’s one mission and that’s Central Davidson,” George said. “We’re not worried about any other scores. We have to worry about Asheboro and Central Davidson.”

The Blue Comets’ offense was unstoppable in the first half, scoring on three long touchdown drives. The first was an 80-yard drive in 12 plays, the second was a 68-yard drive in 12 plays and the third covered 42 yards in nine plays.

“We have some nice backs and some fullbacks who will put a hat on people,” George said of his running attack, which featured a 133-yard performance from sophomore Terry Richmond and 262 total yards. “It was nice seeing the offense stay on the field in order to give our defense a break. That was big.”

After stopping the Hornets on the game’s first drive, the Blue Comets capped their first scoring drive when quarterback Shyheim Lineberry flipped a quick-hitting 3-yard scoring toss to Nick Hannon. Richmond had a 39-yard run in the drive.

Lineberry, who had key runs in each of the first two scoring drives, scrambled for 17 yards on third-and-eight in the second drive, a drive that was capped by Lineberry jumping over the pile for a 1-yard score. Diego Haro’s second PAT made it 14-0.

AHS defense, led by James Ridley, Jordan Pearson, Marzell Parker and Nick Coe, forced a punt deep in the WG end and the Blue Comets took over at the WG 42. A beautifully executed 24-yard swing pass to Wayne Robertson on fourth-and-15 kept the drive alive and Richmond ended it with a 9-yard run for the 21-0 halftime lead.

“That’s the Terry Richmond I remember from last year,” George said. “We threw a wrinkle into our blocking scheme, but with him it’s confidence. He ran really well.”

A 2-yard scoring run by senior fullback Jake Galloway in the third quarter made it 27-0 before each team scored once in the final quarter. Western Guilford’s Keenan Stephens hauled in a 12-yard scoring strike and AHS answered when senior Jatavia Greene scored from 2 yards away.